388

PUNISHMENT OF DEATH ABOLISHED.

1

Still it must not be supposed that many persons had hitherto been executed. Since the laws had first been made, nearly five years ago, only four men had been put to death. They had all been guilty of rebellion against Pomare, but not of murder. Two had been hanged on one occasion, and two on another. At the last execution Mr. Crook had attended, and had spoken to the multitude while the bodies were hanging on the pole, between two trees. Yet these executions had not had a good effect upon the natives, but had appeared to harden them.

After a long argument between the chiefs on the subject of the punishment of death, it was decided that it should be abolished.

The parliament spent eight days in consulting together. Each day's business was begun and concluded with prayer, and the behaviour of all present was excellent. No one interrupted or contradicted another, nor uttered an angry word, nor by his manner appeared to think that he knew more than the rest; but each behaved courteously, and spoke modestly and sensibly.

He

Soon after the meeting of parliament, the coronation of the little king took place. was now nearly four years old. The day appointed was April 21st, 1824. The place of coronation was a field, where a platform of

CORONATION PROCESSION.

389

stones was erected under a high tree, with a lower platform by the side of the first.

On the day of the coronation the people met early at the queen's house, which was about half a mile from the coronation field. The little king was dressed in his coronation robes in Mr. Nott's house, the robes having been made by Mrs. Nott. He was then conveyed to the queen's house, where many were waiting to receive him, and was placed upon a chair, under a canopy of native cloth.

The procession was then arranged. This was the order of it.

A woman and two girls scattering flowers.

Wives and children of missionaries.

Mr. Bennett.

Mr. Henry.

A chief judge.

Mahine, a chief judge,

carrying a Bible.

Mr. Nott.

Mr. Tyerman.

Seven missionaries, and son and nephew, in two rows.

A chief judge.

King's mother

and sister.

Utami, a chief judge,

with copy of the laws.

Tati, with crown.

KING carried

in a chair by four chiefs;

canopy supported by four youths.

Pomare, chief of Tahaa.

Relations of the royal family,

A chief judge.

A chief judge.

King's aunts.

carrying three tables, and phial of oil.

Governors, four in a row.

Judges, four in a row.

Magistrates, four in a row.

390

ARRANGEMENT ON THE PLATFORMS.

A multitude, consisting of eight thousand persons, viewed this procession walk to the appointed field. Amongst the spectators were the kings, and chiefs of Raiatea, and Huahine, and the neighbouring islands. This was the first christian coronation that had ever taken place in the South Seas, and it was observed as a pattern for others.

When the procession reached the platforms, the king was placed in his chair on the highest platform, just beneath the tall tree that shaded it, as well as beneath his own little canopy. The three little tables were placed before him. The crown was laid on the middle table, and the Bible and the laws and phial of oil on the tables on each side. Mr. Davies sat close by the little monarch, to answer for him when addressed.

The royal family surrounded him, and the missionaries, their wives and children, and the chief judges, sat at a little distance from them.

On the lower platform the governors and lesser judges were stationed, and around it their wives and children, and the magistrates, were arranged.

When all was in readiness, the coronation service was begun by Mr. Darling giving out a hymn suitable for the occasion. After the singing, Mr. Crook offered up a prayer, and Mr. Nott gave an address to the people. In

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391

the address, Mr. Nott pointed out to the people the duty of obedience to the king they now publicly acknowledged, and he read over the laws to them, asking them to hold up their hands, to show their approbation of them.

When Mr. Nott had concluded his discourse, and had placed the laws again upon the table, Mr. Bennet presented them to the king, while Mr. Wilson addressed the following words to him: "Do you promise to govern your people in justice and mercy, in obedience to the word of God, and these laws, and any other laws that the parliament may agree upon, with your consent?"

Mr. Davies then directed Pomare to reply, "I do, God being my helper."

Mr. Henry then took the oil from the table, and poured some upon the head of the king, at the same time observing that the oil represented the Holy Spirit's power, which only could enable him to act like a christian prince. Mr. Davies then prayed that God's Spirit might rest upon the king, and pronounced a blessing upon him.

Mr. Nott then took the crown from the table, and put it on the king's head, saying, "May God grant you prosperity, health, length of days, and grace to rule in righteousness, and in the fear of the Lord !"

The people then gave three shouts, saying,

392

PRESENTATION OF THE BIBLE.

"Long live the king! May the king be saved!"

Mr. Tyerman next presented the Bible to the king, while Mr. Darling addressed him in these words: "King Pomare, we present to you this book, the most valuable thing in the world. Here is wisdom-this is the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this book, and keep and do the things contained in it; for these are the words of eternal life, able to make you wise and happy in this world, nay wise unto salvation, and so happy for evermore, through faith in Christ Jesus, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

Mr. Jones (the missionary last arrived) now gave out another hymn, and Mr. Wilson concluded with prayer for the king, the nation, and the church of God.

A man now proclaimed pardon to all who were under punishment from the law, permitting the banished to return, and the prisoners to be set free.

The coronation being now ended, the procession descended from the platforms, and walking in the same order as before, proceeded to the Royal Mission Chapel. The little king sat in the chair of state in his pew, but the crown was taken from his head, and placed on the little table before him. The other tables,